Floribunda rose plant named ‘WEKwibscryper’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Floribunda rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of lavender with magenta center coloration.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘WEKwibscryper’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Floribunda Rose.It has a non-disseminated seedling of my creation as its seed parentwith the following genetic origin {[(International Herald Tribune x Rosasoulieana derivative) x (Sweet Chariot x Blue Nile)] x [Blueberry Hill xStephen's Big Purple]} and a non-disseminated seedling of my creation asits pollen parent with the following genetic origin (Crystalline xPerfume Perfection).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combinations of characteristics: its unique lavenderwith magenta center flower coloration, its strong citrus-like to spicyfragrance and its excellent color stability throughout the life of theflower. The plant has a rounded bushy moderately spreading growinghabit, suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty, Calif., shows that the foregoing and other distinguishingcharacteristics come true to form and are established and transmittedthrough succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKwibscryper’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.‘Dr. Huey’ (not patented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, anon-disseminated seedling of my creation by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas ‘WEKwibscryper’ bears very double flowers(about 43 to 75 petals) of lavender with magenta center coloration, thenon-disseminated seedling bears double flowers of red-purple with alavender eye coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 27 to38 petals). The new variety has a rounded bushy moderately spreadingmedium height growing habit (about 92 to about 140 cm. in height),whereas the seed parent has a rounded bushy and compact significantlyshorter growing habit (about 70 to about 85 cm. in height).

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, anon-disseminated seedling of my creation by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas ‘WEKwibscryper’ bears very double flowers(about 43 to 75 petals) of lavender with magenta center coloration, thenon-disseminated seedling bears double flowers of soft lavendercoloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 25 to 35 petals).The new variety bears medium sized flowers (about 7.0 to about 10.2 cm.in diameter), whereas the pollen parent bears smaller flowers (about 6.5to about 8.0 cm. in diameter).

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘JACperby’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,744) by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKwibscryper’ bearsvery double flowers (about 43 to 75 petals) of lavender with magentacenter coloration, ‘JACperby’ bears double flowers of lavendercoloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 20 to 25 petals).The new variety has a rounded bushy moderately spreading medium heightgrowing habit (about 92 to about 140 cm. in height), whereas the closestcommercially available cultivar has a significantly shorter growinghabit (about 80 to about 100 cm. in height).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. The branches used for the photograph came from 3 to 4year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Wasco, Calif.in the month of November. Throughout this specification, colorreferences and/or values are based upon The Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society (1966) except where common terms of colordefinition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. in the month ofNovember. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, culturaland climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of lightand soil.

FLOWER

The new variety sometimes bears its flowers singly, sometimes inclusters of two to seven per stem. Flowers may be borne in regularrounded clusters on strong somewhat short to medium length stems (about18 to about 62 cm.). The cluster ranges from about 14.5 to about 22.0cm. in diameter. Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearlycontinuously during the growing season. The flowers have a strongcitrus-like to spicy fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 2.1 to about 6.6 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.2 to about 0.3 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. It ismoderately rough, with few stipitate glands, and few hairs. Pedunclecolor is between 146C and 146B sometimes lightly suffused, especially onthe side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 187C.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.2 to about 1.9 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.3 to about 1.9 cm. in length, andpointed to somewhat ovoid in shape. The surface of the bud bears between10 to 12 foliaceous appendages, very few stipitate glands and manyhairs, usually with slender entire foliaceous parts extending beyond thetip of the bud about ¾ or more of its length. Bud color is between 138Aand 146C.

The sepals are 5 per flower, about 2.2 to about 4.2 cm. in length andabout 0.7 to about 1.1 cm. in width at the widest point. The outersurface color of the sepal is between 138A and 146C. The outer surfaceof the sepal is somewhat rough and bears between 0 to 5 foliaceousappendages with very few stipitate glands, and many hairs. The innersurface color of the sepal is near 146D broadly bordered by near 137C.After the sepals open, the inner surface color is often moderatelysuffused, especially on the area exposed to the sun, with between 187Band 187C. The inner surface of the sepal is covered with fine woolytomentum; sepal margins are entire and lined with some stipitate glandsand many hairs. The sepals are moderately permanent, usually straight inshape with acute apices.

The receptacle of the flower is of short length (about 0.3 to about 0.7cm.) and moderately thin in caliper (about 0.6 to about 0.8 cm. indiameter). The receptacle is cup-shaped in form. Its surface is smoothwith some hairs and with moderately thick fleshy walls. The receptaclecolor is between 144A and 146C.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.7 toabout 2.4 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 2.0 to about 2.8cm. in length, and ovoid to somewhat globular in form. The color of theunder surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 59B and 61A. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a large zone of between 154Dand 150D. The color of the upper surfaces of the newly opened petals isnear 80C at the lower third of the petal suffusing to between 61A and64A on the remaining surface of the petal. At the point where the petalattaches, there is a moderately large zone of between 154D and 150D.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 7.0 to about 10.2 cm. indiameter. Petalage is very double with about 43 to 75 petals and about 3to 15 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloomform is moderately high centered to cupped, and the petals are tightlyspiraled to cupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward. Whenfully open, the bloom form is more cupped, and the petals are looselycupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of somewhat thin tomedium thickness, with upper surfaces slightly shiny to moderatelysatiny and under surfaces moderately shiny. The petals are about 3.4 toabout 5.3 cm. in length and about 2.4 to about 5.0 cm. in width at thewidest point. Petal margins are entire.

The outer petals are moderately obovate to somewhat rounded in shapewith rounded apices and sometimes slightly notched with one notch.

The inner petals are broadly obovate in shape with rounded apices.

Petaloids are about 2.6 to about 3.6 cm. in length and about 1.2 toabout 2.5 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped somewhat obovate to moderately oblanceolate with rounded tosometimes lacerated apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer petals is between 69B and 76C atthe lower third of the petal suffusing to between 78D and 74D on theremaining surface of the petal and often moderately suffused withbetween 71B and 74B. At the point where the petal attaches, there is asmall zone of between 9D and 11C. The upper surface color of the outerpetals is between 69B and 76C at the lower third of the petal suffusingto between 72C and 71C on the remaining surface of the petal. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a small zone of between 9D and11C.

The under and upper surface color of the intermediate and inner petalsis between 69B and 76C at the lower third of the petal suffusing tobetween 61B and 67A on the remaining surface of the petal.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 61B and 67A.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer petals is between 76C and 76B. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a large zone of between155A and 155C. The upper surface color of the outer petals is between81D and 80D. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a largezone of between 155A and 155C.

The under surface color of the intermediate and inner petals is between73B and 72D. The upper surface color of the intermediate and innerpetals is between 70B and 72D.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 70B and 72D.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In November in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., blooms on the bush growingoutdoors generally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plantsgrown outdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generallylast about four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are average in number (average about 75) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of short to medium length (about 0.3 to about 0.7 cm.)most with anthers. Filaments are between 18D and 8D in color sometimeslightly suffused with between 60B and 60C. The anthers are moderatelysmall for the class and all open approximately at the same time. Anthercolor when immature is near 21B on the external part and near 4D on theinternal part. Anther color at maturity is near 164C on the externalpart and near 200A on the internal part. Pollen is moderately abundantand between 18C and 19C in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 75). The styles are moderatelyeven, somewhat short to average in length (about 0.4 to about 0.7 cm.),moderately thin in caliper, and loosely bunched to somewhat separated.Stigma color is between 16D and 14D. Style color is between 154D and 1Dusually heavily suffused with between 60A and 59B. Ovaries are usuallyall enclosed in the calyx. The ovaries are of medium size and between158A and 159C in color.

Hips have not been observed on this variety when grown in RanchoCucamonga, Calif.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to seven leaflets andare borne abundantly. The seven-leaflet leaves are about 7.0 to about19.0 cm. in length and about 5.5 to about 14.8 cm. in width at thewidest point, moderately leathery to somewhat crisp in texture on bothsides, and glossy in finish on the upper side and semi-glossy in finishon the under side. The leaves have a pinnate venation pattern. Theterminal leaflets are about 3.1 to about 9.1 cm. in length and about 2.3to about 5.6 cm. in width at the widest point, shaped broadly ovate tosomewhat oval with acute apices and rounded to somewhat acute bases.Their margins are usually simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 139A and 147A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 137C and 147C. Theunder and upper colors of the leaf veins on the mature leaf are similarin coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors of the mature leafThe upper surface color of the young leaf is between 137B and 146C,often lightly suffused with between 187A and 187B. The under surfacecolor of the young leaf is between 146B and 147C, often lightly suffusedwith between 187B and 187C. The under and upper colors of the leaf veinson the young leaf are similar in coloration to the upper and undersurfaces colors of the young leaf

The rachis is about 3.4 to about 8.4 cm. in length, about 0.1 to about0.2 cm in width at the widest point, and rough. The upper side is deeplygrooved with very few hairs and few stipitate glands on the edges of thegrooves. The under side of the rachis is rough with very few hairs, veryfew stipitate glands and few small prickles. The rachis color is near146D on the under side and near 137C on the upper side, often moderatelysuffused on the young leaves with between 187B and 187C.

The stipules are about 0.6 to about 1.5 cm. in length and of somewhatnarrow to medium width (about 0.3 to about 0.8 cm.) with medium tomoderately long straight points that usually turn out at an angle ofmore than 45 degrees and sometimes recurve toward the stem. The underand upper surface color of the stipule is between 137B and 137C oftenlightly suffused on the young leaves with between 187B and 187C. Theupper and under surfaces of the stipules are smooth in texture.

The petiole is somewhat light to average in caliper and rough. The upperside is deeply grooved with very few hairs and few stipitate glands onthe edges of the grooves. The under side of the petiole is rough withvery few hairs, very few stipitate glands and few small prickles. Thepetiole is about 0.3 to about 1.6 cm. in length and about 0.1 to about0.2 cm in width at the widest point. The petiole color is near 146D onthe under side and near 137C on the upper side, often moderatelysuffused on the young leaves with between 187B and 187C.

The plant displays an average degree of resistance to powdery mildew(Sphaerotheca pannosa), downy mildew (Peronospora sparsa), and rust(Phragmidium sp.) as compared to other commercial varieties grown undercomparable conditions in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. The plant's winterhardiness and drought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a rounded bushy moderately spreading medium height growinghabit (about 92 to about 140 cm. in height and about 125 to about 152cm. spread at the widest point), with very full branching. It displaysvigorous growth and the canes are of medium sized to somewhat heavycaliper for the class (about 1.5 to about 2.9 cm. in diameter at thewidest point).

The color of the major stems is between 146A and 147B. The major stemsare rough in texture and they bear some large prickles that are about0.8 to about 1.3 cm. in length. The large prickles are angled slightlydownward with a moderately short broad oval base; prickle color isbetween 165B and 164A. The major stem bears few small prickles ofsimilar shape and coloration.

The color of the branches is between 137C and 148B. The branches arerough in texture and they bear few large prickles which are of similarshape to the large prickles on the major stems. The prickles are about0.5 to about 0.9 cm. in length. Prickle color is between 160C and 160B.The branches bear very few small prickles of similar shape andcoloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 146C and 146B often moderatelysuffused with between 187A and 187B. The new shoots are rough in textureand they bear few large prickles which are of similar size and shape tothe large prickles on the branches; prickle color is between 152D and152C usually heavily suffused with between 187C and 187D. The shootsbear very few small prickles of similar shape and coloration.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant of the varietydesignated ‘WEKwibscryper’ substantially as described and illustratedherein.